Ornamentals, Landscape and Turf Certificate Class Listings

This certificate requires completion of a a minimum of 12 credit hours. The universities in the AG*IDEA Consortium, which offers this Horticulture certificate, are KSU - Kansas State University; NCSU - North Carolina State University; TTU - Texas Tech University; UNK - University of Nebraska-Kearney; and UNL - University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

CORE COURSES: Minimum of 6 hours required. Select from the following courses:

HORT 824 Plant Nutrition & Nutrient Mgt. This course will focus on the macro- and micronutrient elements and their function in the growth and development of plants. Emphasis will be placed on the uptake and transport of mineral elements from the soil into and throughout the plant, the role of single elements, interactions/balances between elements, and nutrient deficiency/toxicity symptoms as they affect the physiology of the whole plant. Pre-requisites include: plant physiology, soil, organic chemistry or biochemistry. Strong plant science/biology and algebra background are highly recommended.

HORT 843K ArboricultureCourse focuses on the physiological principles and industry practices in the production, moving, care, and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs and ground covers. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the career tools to install and maintain woody plants. This goal will be accomplished through the review of the pertinent literature and through class exercises designed to improve students' skills and knowledge of woody plant physiology, care and maintenance.

Credit Hours: 3

Teaching Institution: TTU

Instructor: Dr. Cynthia McKenney

Offered: (Currently under construction - Projected for Fall 2021)

Electives: Minimum of 6 hours required. Select from the Following Courses:

HORT 814 Turfgrass Disease ManagementCourse focuses on diseases of grasses maintained as turf, emphasizing diseases that occur in the northern Great Plains of the U.S. In addition to strategies used in managing the diseases, the biology of the causal organisms and the influence of environmental conditions are examined.

Credit Hours:1

Teaching Institution: UNL

Instructor: Dr. Gary Yuen

Offered: Spring 2020

HORT 843M Weed ScienceIn this course students will study weeds and weed control methods in agronomic and horticultural crops and turf grass with an emphasis on chemical weed control. The course is divided into lecture and laboratory sections. The lecture portion will count three-fifths (3/5) of your total grade and the laboratory will count two-fifths (2/5). In lecture, we will discuss the history of weed control, weed characteristics, weed competition, and methods of weed control including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical. Herbicides will be discussed by family with specific regard to their chemical structure, efficacy, mode and mechanism of action, crop selectivity, soil activity and persistence, and cost. In lab, we will examine the practical aspects of weed control including weed seed and plant identification, sprayer equipment, sprayer calibration, herbicide formulations, herbicide labels, crop/weed response to herbicides and injury symptomology, and Worker Protection Standards

HORT 842A Plant Pathology Survey of the principles and practices of plant pathology. The main and genetic elements involved in plant disease will be covered. Many of the major diseases, as well as their causes and effects, will be surveyed.

Credit Hours: 3

Teaching Institution: UNK

Instructor: Dr. Paul Twigg

Offered: Spring - Even Years

HORT 880 Modified RootzonesModified rootzones and their applications in the turfgrass and landscape management industry. Correct applications and construction techniques. The course focuses on "created" soils for specialized situations, such as golf greens, sports fields, container plants and green roofs.

HORT 888 Entrepreneurship & Enterprise DevelopmentStudents will research a specific agricultural enterprise, then develop and present a business plan using materials from the primary area of interest. Requires the completion of a shadowing assignment and the analysis of case studies.
Please note that while the course is offered by UNL in both the fall and spring semesters every year, it is available through the special AG*IDEA enrollment system only in the fall of odd-numbered years. Please register with Dan Cotton, dcotton1@unl.edu, to receive the AG*IDEA tuition rate.

HORT 844B Environmental Stress PhysiologyPhysiology of plant responses to environmental stresses, with emphasis on current research in selected physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms for tolerance to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, salt, pathogens and other plants.